Simone Luca Gagliardi is the Italian most seasoned Sommelier of Dubai and founder of Tasted and Rated, together with Garth Beer. They are Sommeliers Point of Reference of the Middle East who have dedicated their life in pursuit of wine excellence. Gagliardi and Beer share the same dream of taking the Dubai Wine and Hospitality Industry in a new direction [...]

Wine Review - Luca Gagliardi Gianni Gagliardo and his Barolo’s I first meet Gianni more than 10 years ago, while working at Verre by Gordon Ramsay and I was so pleased to have the first TastedAndRated master class with Gianni’s top Cru. Before the master class, I have meet Gianni at the Four Season Jumeirah for an [...]

MEET THE PROFESSIONAL Laura Pedrazzoli presents: Bastianich & Moschioni Wines from Friuli Venezia Giulia During the 8th edition of the Italian Cuisine World Summit 2016 that took place in Dubai between the 7th and the 17th of November, which coincided with the launch of TastedAndRated, I had the honour to be the Wine Director for the Summit. One [...]

Meet the Chef Xiaomeng Liu Head Chef Zengo In my 13 years of living in Dubai, I have seen many places opening, rebranding, losing loyal clientele and also found that some of the best older restaurants in the city are unknown to most Dubai newcomers. When I meet people who have been here for quite a long time like [...]

MEET THE EMERGING SOMMELIER Anca Lazaroni Anyone that believes being a Sommelier is merely a job, cannot be a true sommelier. Being a Sommelier is being a wine professional, a wine aficionado and a person who understands and craves a deep knowledge of the wine world, wine making, spirits, cigars, the professional approach of cooking techniques and ingredients, the [...]

MEET THE PROFESSIONAL YOHAN MOREL BRAND AMBASSADOR MAS de DAUMAS GASSAC It is my firm belief that everything happens for a reason. And indeed on the day of this interview, it is Yohan Morel’s last day at Toko Restaurant, the iconic Asian venue on the Dubai Boulevard. By coincidence, or rather not, our roads connect as we both say arrivederci [...]

MEET THE GUEST BARTENDER Luca Cinalli Oriole Bar London In my experience as a sommelier and restaurateur, I have been very lucky to share my life with professional figures that have enriched my knowledge and experience. Together with chefs and culinary experts, no one brings this knowledge more than the bartenders. For many years now they have always been [...]

Guest Review Alain H Lee Alain H Lee is a Professional Wine Consultant from Western Australia and with an impressive background of experiences from around the world. Today Alain is sharing some of his latest wine trip on in a a small Vineyard in Frankland River, 7 hours south of Perth Western Australia. CLOS DU TERRE WINES By [...]

Guest Rewiew Aziz Hathout The two wines I picked represent the symbiosis between wine and art. The end results are unique masterpieces. Marc Kreydenweiss, Andlau Riesling, France 2012 The Estate , located in Andlau in the heart of Alsace is my opinion of the greatest expression of purity available in Dubai. Certified biodynamic since the late 80's, [...]

During the Italian Cuisine World Summit 2016, I had the honor of organizing the Best Kept Secret Wine Dinner.
The idea behind this dinner was to display 12 gems of 12 Italian wineries to be presented by 12 of the most influential Sommelier’s in the country. The hot spot location of this amazing dinner was at Social by Heinz Beck restaurant at the Waldorf Astoria, on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.